Fast Fixes To Help You Fly This Fall

Does the idea of a slow-cooked, comfort food dinner sound great — but there’s just no time to make it? With the help of the right ingredients, comfort and convenience really can go hand in hand.

It’s possible to capture slow-cooked, homemade flavor in an instant, thanks to products such as Hormel refrigerated entrees. Ready in minutes, they can help you get a balanced meal on the table in no time — a comforting dinner made possible.

These five fast and easy dinners take advantage of time-saving products easily found in the grocery store. Bagged salads, canned vegetables, ready-made sides and deli rolls round out main dish offerings like preservative-free entrees from Hormel Foods for a no-fuss meal that will satisfy the whole family. Consider adding quick and easy Country Crock side dishes to the meal for greater ease. Ready in five minutes, they bring quality ingredients to the family dinner while letting you save on time — not on taste.

• Meat and Potato Lovers’ Dinner

• Hormel Roast Beef Au Jus

• Country Crock Homestyle Mashed

Potatoes

• Caesar Salad

• Traditional Beef Dinner

• Hormel Roast Beef Au Jus

• Country Crock Garlic Mashed Potatoes,

garnished with bacon bits

• Canned Carrot Slices

• Mom’s Meatloaf Dinner

• Hormel Meatloaf and Tomato Sauce

• Canned Sweet Potatoes, topped with

cracked pepper

• Mixed Green Salad

• Being Thankful Turkey Dinner

• Hormel Sliced Turkey Breast and Gravy

• Canned Baby Potatoes with butter and

parsley

• Stuffing Mix

• Easy ’n Elegant Pork Dinner

• Hormel Pork Roast Au Jus

• Canned Asparagus Spears with

fresh-squeezed lemon

• Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

To have dinner on the table in 15 minutes, simply plan your cooking sequence. Microwave the meat first because it will stay hot longer and then heat the vegetables or side dishes. If serving a salad, add the dressing to the prepared salad and toss while the other foods are heating.

For tested recipes using Hormel Refrigerated Entrees and Country Crock Side Dishes, go to possibledinner.com

Source: Hormel Foods

Hauntingly healthy

With fall break over and children back in school, it’s time to head back to the kitchen as well. School night meals need to be fast, but as parents aim to establish a healthy eating routine, they need to provide the right nutrients for active bodies and minds. Good nutrition provides essential building blocks to get the brain working properly and at peak alertness throughout the day.

A healthy meal plan is important. The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention notes that the prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 - 11 years of age has more than doubled in the past 20 years. Learning how to make smart food choices as a child can increase the ability to make better food and nutrition choices as adults. Start at-home lessons by incorporating the following easy-to-remember smart eating tips.

Healthy Eating for the Family

• Variety — Plan several days of meals at a time to help avoid repetition.

• Portions — Keep the serving sizes in mind when preparing meals.

• Color — Include colorful foods in a dish for a variety of nutrients.

• Texture — Serve foods with different textures such as crunchy, chewy, and smooth.

• Aroma — Cook with new spices and experiment to create innovative aromas.

• Choice — Select a different vegetable at the grocery store or introduce fish for new tastes.

“Back to school doesn’t have to mean back to basics when planning a nutritious weekday meal that will satisfy the whole family,” explains registered dietitian, Michele Powers. “Uncle Ben’s Ready Whole Grain Medley Santa Fe, for example, is a great product to keep in the pantry for those busy evenings. Ready in just 90 seconds, it also provides a full day’s requirement of whole grains in one serving — meaning parents can spend less time in the kitchen and more time with their kids.”

For more easy, healthy recipes and information, visit www.UncleBens.com.

Whole Grain Santa Fe Chicken Quesadilla

Serves: 4; preparation time: 5 minutes

1 package Uncle Ben’s Ready Whole Grain Medley Santa Fe

1 package precooked chicken breast(s) sliced

1 cup Monterey Jack cheese shredded

4 each whole wheat tortillas burrito size

Heat rice in microwave according to package directions.

Making one quesadilla at a time, heat tortilla in large skillet. Sprinkle 1/4 of the cheese, 4 chicken strips and 1/4 of rice over tortilla.

Fold tortilla in half and continue to heat on both sides until cheese has melted.

Sandwitchery

Supermoms (and dads) often find themselves struggling when it comes to putting together great tasting, nutritious school lunches. Time, money and the same old routine can put a good lunch in danger.

But with a few new ideas and the right ingredients, it’s possible to save lunch — and save money. Brown bagging lunch can save up to $2,000 dollars a year, according to a study by leading market research company NPD Group. So it’s worth it to rethink the lunch bag and pack up some delicious savings.

Try a variety of deli meat flavors to keep things interesting. An economical way to do that is with the Hillshire Farm Family Size Lunchmeat Tubs, which offer twice as much quality lunchmeat. That allows you to make eight sandwiches per package. The containers are double sealed for freshness to ensure the quality lunchmeat — made with no by-products or artificial flavors — makes only the tastiest sandwiches for your family!

Save the kids from boring sandwiches — with a little creativity, a super lunch can come to the rescue.